School Employees in Pottawatomie County Eligible for Project RESPECT Scholarships to Pursue Mental Health Careers

Project RESPECT is a new scholarship program designed to improve access to mental health services for Pottawatomie County youth by creating a pathway for individuals to pursue a master’s degree leading to licensure as a mental health provider.

The five-year grant partnership between the Oklahoma Department of Education, the U.S. Department of Education and the Avedis Foundation offers scholarships to full-time teachers and other school personnel employed in Pottawatomie County to help them obtain a graduate degree that leads to a mental health career. Project RESPECT stands for “ReSpecialize, RePurpose, ReEducate, ReCruit and ReTain.”

The Project RESPECT scholarship can be used to cover a major portion of the cost for OBU’s Marriage and Family Therapy graduate program preparing individuals for a career in mental health.

“I’m so excited to see how Avedis and the Oklahoma State Department of Education have joined together to change the landscape of mental health in Pottawatomie County,” said Dr. Canaan Crane, director of OBU’s Marriage and Family Therapy Program and professor of psychology. “As a 30-year resident of Pottawatomie County with two children in a local school district, I know that our local school systems are working their hardest to provide quality educational experiences and that we absolutely need expanded access to mental health services. As a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in Shawnee, I know that many people struggle to access therapy services with demand at an all-time high. This scholarship program will help more people join the mental health profession and will ultimately improve the lives of children and their families.”

Project RESPECT is set to award a limited number of scholarships to individuals committed to becoming licensed mental health providers to serve Pottawatomie County youth. Each eligible individual can be awarded up to $1,000 per three-hour course, covering tuition, fees, and books, up to a maximum of 12 hours per semester.

With the Project RESPECT scholarship, individuals can pursue a Master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy degree for less than $10,000, reducing the typical cost by more than half.

The expressed intent for Project RESPECT is that future scholarship cycles, from Fall 2024 to June 2027, will expand to include additional community partners from the county.

To be eligible for these scholarships, applicants must be currently employed by a Pottawatomie County school district, hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited university, and be accepted into an accredited graduate program, such as OBU’s MFT program, leading to an Oklahoma school-based mental health certification and/or Oklahoma behavioral health licensure, with proof of acceptance required.

Scholarship recipients are required to maintain good academic standing in accordance with their university's graduate program; commit to providing mental health services to Pottawatomie County youth for a period equivalent to the number of semesters in which they received funding and participate in relevant meetings and professional development opportunities held by the Project RESPECT team and grant partners.

This initiative aims to make education in the field of mental health more accessible and affordable for educators, ultimately contributing to the betterment of the local community.

OBU's MFT graduate program equips students with the necessary training to provide therapeutic services from a relational and systemic perspective. Graduates of this program can apply their skills in various settings, including counseling agencies, schools, hospitals, churches, mission fields, and private practices. The curriculum also emphasizes understanding the role of faith in clients' lives and relationships.

Moreover, OBU offers the Kemp MFT Clinic, an on-campus embedded training facility, along with a diverse selection of practicum sites both locally and statewide, enhancing the practical experience gained during the program.

The demand for marriage and family therapists is projected to grow by an impressive 15 percent from 2022 to 2032, significantly faster than the average for all occupations, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The data indicates that approximately 5,900 openings for marriage and family therapists are expected each year on average over the next decade.

For more information, contact Allie Blevins, OBU Director of Graduate and Online Recruitment, at allie.blevins@okbu.edu, 405.585.4601.